US20040066558A1 - Spectroscope with multiple laser beams - Google Patents
Spectroscope with multiple laser beams Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20040066558A1 US20040066558A1 US10/456,698 US45669803A US2004066558A1 US 20040066558 A1 US20040066558 A1 US 20040066558A1 US 45669803 A US45669803 A US 45669803A US 2004066558 A1 US2004066558 A1 US 2004066558A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- laser beam
- concavity
- spectroscope
- angle
- reflective
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
- G02B5/001—Axicons, waxicons, reflaxicons
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
- G02B27/106—Beam splitting or combining systems for splitting or combining a plurality of identical beams or images, e.g. image replication
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
- G02B27/1073—Beam splitting or combining systems characterized by manufacturing or alignment methods
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
- G02B27/12—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by refraction only
- G02B27/126—The splitting element being a prism or prismatic array, including systems based on total internal reflection
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
- G02B27/14—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only
- G02B27/143—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)
Abstract
A spectroscope has a body having a front surface, a rear surface, and a concavity provided in the rear surface. The concavity is defined by a plurality of angled reflective surfaces. A laser beam directed at the front surface is divided into a plurality of branch laser beams, with one branch laser beam generated for each of the plurality of reflective surfaces.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The invention relates to a spectroscope which produces multiple laser beams.
- 2. Description of the Prior Art
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,090B1, entitled “Multiple Laser Beam Generation” illustrates a reflecting
object 10 that has a plurality of reflecting surfaces, with the reflecting object made of a glass material. This reflectingobject 10 is shown in FIG. 1 herein. Referring to FIG. 1, four protruding reflectingsurfaces surfaces laser beam 20 being 45 degrees. A fifth reflectingsurface 15 is positioned to allow thelaser beam 20 to pass directly therethrough. As thelaser beam 20 passes through the reflectingobject 10, thelaser beam 20 is divided into fivebranch laser beams surface 15 is perpendicular to the laser beam 20 (i.e., there is no any refraction angle between them), a further hole (not shown) can be provided for thelaser beam 20 to pass through directly. - The reflecting
object 10 in U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,090B1 is essentially a glass material positioned in a path where thelaser beam 20 travels, so thelaser beam 20 travels from a medium with low refraction index to another medium with high refraction index. Therefore each reflectingsurface incoming laser beam 20. For example, in such a situation, only about 4% of thelaser beam 20 might be reflected, with the other 96% passing directly through the reflectingobject 10. Since thelaser beam 20 is intended to pass directly through the fifth reflectingsurface 15, a reflective coating is not needed for the fifth reflectingsurface 15. However, the reflectingobject 10 in U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,090B1 still suffers from the following disadvantages: - 1. Reflective coatings are needed for each reflecting
surface object 10. - 2. The glass material that makes up the reflecting
object 10 must be grinded precisely, which requires complicated manufacturing processes that do not allow for mass-production, thereby increasing manufacturing costs. - It is an objective of the present invention to provide a spectroscope that produces multiple laser beams without the need for any coatings on the reflective surfaces.
- It is another objective of the present invention to provide a spectroscope that can be formed by injection molding or glass sintering.
- It is another objective of the present invention to provide a spectroscope that can be mass-produced at lower manufacturing costs.
- It is another objective of the present invention to provide a spectroscope that is capable of increasing or decreasing the number of laser beams generated.
- In order to accomplish the objectives of the present invention, the present invention provides a spectroscope that has a body having a front surface, a rear surface, and a concavity provided in the rear surface. The concavity is defined by a plurality of angled reflective surfaces and an inner flat surface, with the inner flat surface being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis and parallel to the front surface. A laser beam directed at the front surface is divided into a plurality of branch laser beams, with one branch laser beam generated for each of the plurality of reflective surfaces and the inner flat surface.
- Due to the fact that the laser beam is emitted from a medium having a high refraction index through a medium having a low refraction index, and an incident angle that is greater than a critical angle of total internal refraction, when the laser beam contacts the reflective surfaces of the concavity, a total internal reflection feature is provided, thereby omitting the need for coatings and allowing for the spectroscope to be mass-produced at low cost while maintaining a high degree of precision and manufacturing consistency.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art reflecting object.
- FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a spectroscope according to one embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2B is a top cross-sectional view of the spectroscope of FIG. 2A.
- FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a spectroscope according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3B is a top cross-sectional view of the spectroscope of FIG. 3A.
- FIGS. 4 and 5 are top cross-sectional views of two other embodiments of spectroscopes according to the present invention.
- FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a spectroscope according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 6B is a front elevation view of the spectroscope of FIG. 6A.
- The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
- FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate one embodiment of a
spectroscope 30 according to the present invention. Thespectroscope 30 has abody 28, with aconcavity 31 sunken into arear surface 319 of thebody 28. Theconcavity 31 has a plurality (e.g., four) of angledreflective surfaces reflective surface surface side edges inner edge 3114. Theconcavity 31 is configured so that its dimension decreases from therear surface 319 of thespectroscope 30 towards its flatinner-most surface 315. In other words, the outer edge 3111 is longer than theinner edge 3114, and eachside edge inner edge 3114. In addition, the fouredges concavity 31. In other words, each of these four edges for a particular reflectingsurface surfaces concavity 31 has a central axial portion, which is defined as aflat surface 315 that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis which is represented by thelaser beam 20. Theflat surface 315 allows thelaser beam 20 to penetrate therethrough with no any reflecting angle. - The
laser beam 20 is emitted into thespectroscope 30 through afront surface 318 of the spectroscope, which is adjacent theflat surface 315 of theconcavity 31. When thelaser beam 20 penetrates thefront surface 318 and thebody 28, thelaser beam 20 contacts thereflective surfaces laser beam 20 is split into a plurality ofbranch laser beams reflective surface reflective surface laser beam 20 is 45 degrees, so that eachbranch laser beam laser beam 20. Part of thelaser beam 20 passes through theflat surface 315. Thelaser beam 20 emitted at thereflective surfaces body 28 of the spectroscope) into another medium with a low refraction index (i.e., air). In addition, each incident angle is greater than a critical angle of total internal reflection. In this regard, for incident angles greater than or equal to the critical angle of total internal reflection, all the incoming energy is reflected back into the incident medium in the process known as total internal reflection. Thus, a total reflection feature is provided by the present invention. In other words, thereflective surfaces spectroscope 30 can be made of injection molding or glass sintering without grinding, so that thespectroscope 30 can be mass-produced at low cost while maintaining a high degree of precision and manufacturing consistency. - FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate another embodiment of a
spectroscope 30A according to the present invention. Thespectroscope 30A in FIGS. 3A and 3B has the same construction as thespectroscope 30 in FIGS. 2A and 2B, except that the central axial portion (i.e., the flat surface 315) of theconcavity 31 of thespectroscope 30A is now replaced by anempty bore 315A so that thelaser beam 20 is emitted through thebore 315A without any reflecting angle. Other than this modification, the other elements in the twospectroscopes - The embodiments in FIGS. 4 and 5 will illustrate that, by varying the angles of the
reflective surfaces branch laser beams - FIG. 4 is a top cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a
spectroscope 30B according to the present invention. Thespectroscope 30B in FIG. 4 has the same construction as thespectroscope 30 in FIGS. 2A and 2B, except that the angle θ1 between eachreflective surface laser beam 20B) is less than 45 degrees, which results in thebranch laser beams reflective surfaces laser beam 20B. - In addition, the
external surface 333 of thespectroscope 30B can be oriented at an angle (with respect to the longitudinal axis) where thesurface 333 would be generally perpendicular to the reflected laser beam (e.g., 22B and 24B) so that thesurface 333 would not further refract these laser beams (e.g., 22B and 24B). As an alternative, thesurface 333 can be oriented at angles (with respect to the longitudinal axis) where thesurface 333 would not be perpendicular to the reflected laser beam (e.g., 22B and 24B) so that thesurface 333 would further refract these laser beams (e.g., 22B and 24B). Thus, orienting thesurface 333 at different angles will adjust the orientation of the resultant branch laser beams (e.g., 22B and 24B). - Other than these two modifications, the other elements in the two
spectroscopes - FIG. 5 is a top cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a
spectroscope 30C according to the present invention. Thespectroscope 30C in FIG. 5 has the same construction as thespectroscope 30 in FIGS. 2A and 2B, except that the angle θ2 between eachreflective surface laser beam 20C) is greater than 45 degrees, which results in thebranch laser beams reflective surfaces laser beam 20C. In addition, theexternal surface 334 of thespectroscope 30C can be oriented at different angles (with respect to the longitudinal axis) in the same manner as described above for thesurface 333 of thespectroscope 30C to adjust the orientation of the resultant branch laser beams (e.g., 22C and 24C). Other than these modifications, the other elements in the twospectroscopes - FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate another
spectroscope 40 according to the present invention. Thespectroscope 40 is shaped as an octagon and has anoctagonal concavity 41. Theconcavity 41 has eightreflective surfaces reflective surfaces concavity 41 also has a centralflat surface 419 which can be the same as thesurface 315 in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Otherwise, the same operating principles apply to both thespectroscope 30 in FIGS. 2A and 2B and thespectroscope 40 in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In particular, when alaser beam 220 is emitted at the front surface of thespectroscope 40 in the manner shown in FIG. 6A, theoctagonal concavity 41 of thespectroscope 40 generates eightbranch laser beams flat surface 419 is perpendicular to thelaser beam 220, thelaser beam 220 passes therethrough to generate a ninthbranch laser beam 229 that is an extension of theoriginal laser beam 220. - The principles of FIGS. 4 and 5 can also be applied to the
spectroscope 40 in FIGS. 6A and 6B. - Accordingly, the present invention provides spectroscopes that enjoy the following advantages:
- 1. By utilizing the theories of optical total reflection and refraction, coatings can be omitted.
- 2. No grinding, coatings or complicated adjusting mechanisms are needed in the manufacturing processes.
- 3. Since injection molding or glass sintering can be used for manufacturing the spectroscopes according to the present invention, the spectroscopes can be mass-produced at low cost, high precision and improved consistency.
- 4. The number and angles of the generated laser branch beams can be varied.
- While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims (19)
1. A spectroscope, comprising:
a body having a front surface, a rear surface, and a concavity provided in the rear surface, the concavity defined by a plurality of angled reflective surfaces and an inner flat surface, with the inner flat surface being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis and parallel to the front surface; and
wherein a laser beam directed at the front surface is divided into a plurality of branch laser beams, with one branch laser beam generated for each of the plurality of reflective surfaces and the inner flat surface.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the angle between each reflective surface and the longitudinal axis is 45 degrees.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the angle between each reflective surface and the longitudinal axis is greater than 45 degrees.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the angle between each reflective surface and the longitudinal axis is less than 45 degrees.
5. The device of claim 2 , wherein each branch laser beam extends at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the laser beam.
6. The device of claim 3 , wherein each branch laser beam extends at an angle of greater than 90 degrees with respect to the laser beam.
7. The device of claim 4 , wherein each branch laser beam extends at an angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to the laser beam.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reflective surface comprises four surfaces.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reflective surface comprises eight surfaces.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein each reflecting surface has an outer edge, an inner edge, and two side edges that connect the outer edge and the inner edge, with the outer edge being longer than the inner edge, and each side edge being angled from the outer edge towards the inner edge.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the concavity is configured so that its dimension decreases from the rear surface towards the inner flat surface.
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reflective surfaces in the concavity are symmetrically positioned in the concavity.
13. A spectroscope, comprising:
a body having a front surface, a rear surface, a bore and a concavity provided in the rear surface, the concavity defined by a plurality of angled reflective surfaces, and wherein the bore extends from the front surface to the concavity and defines a longitudinal axis; and
wherein a laser beam directed at the front surface is divided into a plurality of branch laser beams, with one branch laser beam generated for each of the plurality of reflective surfaces, and one branch laser beam traveling through the bore.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the angle between each reflective surface and the longitudinal axis is 45 degrees.
15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the angle between each reflective surface and the longitudinal axis is greater than 45 degrees.
16. The device of claim 13 , wherein the angle between each reflective surface and the longitudinal axis is less than 45 degrees.
17. The device of claim 13 , wherein each reflecting surface has an outer edge, an inner edge, and two side edges that connect the outer edge and the inner edge, with the outer edge being longer than the inner edge, and each side edge being angled from the outer edge towards the inner edge.
18. The device of claim 13 , wherein the concavity is configured so that its dimension decreases from the rear surface towards the bore.
19. The device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of reflective surfaces in the concavity are symmetrically positioned in the concavity.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
TW91215727 | 2002-10-04 | ||
TW91215727U | 2002-10-04 | ||
TW091215727U TW582551U (en) | 2002-10-04 | 2002-10-04 | Multi-light beam laser light splitting lens |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US6710924B1 US6710924B1 (en) | 2004-03-23 |
US20040066558A1 true US20040066558A1 (en) | 2004-04-08 |
Family
ID=31975256
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/456,698 Expired - Fee Related US6710924B1 (en) | 2002-10-04 | 2003-06-06 | Spectroscope with multiple laser beams |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US6710924B1 (en) |
TW (1) | TW582551U (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050225870A1 (en) * | 2004-04-05 | 2005-10-13 | Morrissey Kevin M | Optical system providing four beams from a single source |
US20060119953A1 (en) * | 2004-04-05 | 2006-06-08 | Morrissey Kevin M | Optical system providing several beams from a single source |
FR2910979A1 (en) * | 2006-12-28 | 2008-07-04 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | Monochromatic incident light beam i.e. laser beam, part sampling device for diagnosing laser beam, has prism with plate whose plane face forms dihedron with one of parallel and plane faces, where angle of dihedron has specific value |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5191595A (en) * | 1991-04-12 | 1993-03-02 | Telecommunications Techniques Corporation | T1 digital communications system for in-service detection and identification of malfunctioning repeaters |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6327090B1 (en) * | 1997-07-03 | 2001-12-04 | Levelite Technology, Inc. | Multiple laser beam generation |
US6529329B2 (en) * | 2000-11-08 | 2003-03-04 | Hilti Aktiengesellschaft | Optical alignment apparatus with a beam splitter |
US6542304B2 (en) * | 1999-05-17 | 2003-04-01 | Toolz, Ltd. | Laser beam device with apertured reflective element |
-
2002
- 2002-10-04 TW TW091215727U patent/TW582551U/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2003
- 2003-06-06 US US10/456,698 patent/US6710924B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6327090B1 (en) * | 1997-07-03 | 2001-12-04 | Levelite Technology, Inc. | Multiple laser beam generation |
US6542304B2 (en) * | 1999-05-17 | 2003-04-01 | Toolz, Ltd. | Laser beam device with apertured reflective element |
US6529329B2 (en) * | 2000-11-08 | 2003-03-04 | Hilti Aktiengesellschaft | Optical alignment apparatus with a beam splitter |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050225870A1 (en) * | 2004-04-05 | 2005-10-13 | Morrissey Kevin M | Optical system providing four beams from a single source |
US7006298B2 (en) * | 2004-04-05 | 2006-02-28 | Trimble Navigation Limited | Optical system providing four beams from a single source |
US20060119953A1 (en) * | 2004-04-05 | 2006-06-08 | Morrissey Kevin M | Optical system providing several beams from a single source |
US7092167B2 (en) | 2004-04-05 | 2006-08-15 | Trimble Navigation Limited | Optical system providing four beams from a single source |
US7440192B2 (en) | 2004-04-05 | 2008-10-21 | Trimble Navigation Limited | Optical system providing several beams from a single source |
FR2910979A1 (en) * | 2006-12-28 | 2008-07-04 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | Monochromatic incident light beam i.e. laser beam, part sampling device for diagnosing laser beam, has prism with plate whose plane face forms dihedron with one of parallel and plane faces, where angle of dihedron has specific value |
WO2008080915A1 (en) * | 2006-12-28 | 2008-07-10 | Commissariat A L'energie Atomique | Device for sampling a plurality of parts of a light beam |
US8120863B2 (en) | 2006-12-28 | 2012-02-21 | Commissariat A L'energie Atomique | Device for sampling a plurality of parts of a light beam |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
TW582551U (en) | 2004-04-01 |
US6710924B1 (en) | 2004-03-23 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: QUARTON INC., TAIWAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WENG, KEVIN;REEL/FRAME:014161/0439 Effective date: 20030319 |
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REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
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FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20080323 |